Roller-skate



(No Model.)

l H. W. LIBBBY.

ROLLE-R SKATE.

Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

vembodying' my invention.

UNITED STATES PATENT Erica IIOSEA lV. LIBBEY, OF BOSTON, MASSAOHUSE'ITS.

RO LLE R-S KATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,694, dated August 25, 1896.

Application filed April 15, 1895.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HOSEA W. LIBBEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Cycles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

illy invention relates to foot-cycles, and it consists of a device having an adj ustable foot-rest as hereinafter described.

It further consists of the combination and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side view of a foot-cycle Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 8 of the foot-clamp. Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line so .fr of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line y y of Fig. Fig. G is also a similar view taken on line e z of Fig. 3.

A A represent two tension-wheels with cushion or inllated tires.

B is a frame forked at each end and preferc bly made of metal tubing. To the outer end of each fork is secured one end of a volute spring O, the inner end of which is secured to the end of the axle of the wheel that it supports. Thus the wheels are mounted, as it were, upon springbearings, which while the wheels are running upon the ground will allow the frame to yield whenever an obstacle is struck by either of the wheels, thus rendering the motion of the frame easy and not liable to sudden jars.

The lowest portion of the frame B is provided with a stud b, on the upper end of which is a heel-plate D, having two spurs adapted, together with E', hereinafter referred to, to engage with the heel of a boot or shoe. Projecting downwardly from said plate are two flanges d d, each of which has a longitudinal slot. E is a central longitudinal bar adapted to move freely between said `flanges and is adjustably connected therewith by a bolt e, which passes through the said slots.

F is a toe-plate having two downwardlyprojecting flanges f f, through which are passed boltsfj", one above and one below the frame B, so that the said foot-plate can easily slide thereon. The bar E is adjustably is a side view Serial N0. 545,737- (No model.)

secured to the toe-plate by means of a bolt e', that passes through longitudinal slots in the flanges ff. Near the rear end of the bar E is a heel-clamp E, that grasps and holds the heel of the boot, and on the under side in the central portion of the bar E is formed a rack e2, into which gears a pinion G, mounted upon a rod or shaft g, carried in bearings H, secured to the frame B, the outer end of this rod being provided with a hand-wheel I, so that after loosening the bolt e and turning the hand-wheel in one direction the bar E can be moved so as to tighten the device on the foot, or by moving the hand-wheel in the opposite direction the device can be loosened and the foot removed therefrom. The heel-plate is permanently attached to the frame, and the toe-plate only is moved backward or forward, the reach of such action being determined by the length of the bar E. On each side of the frame is pivoted an upright bar J, to which is attached two straps K K, one above and the other below the ankle of the operator to firmly secure the apparatus to his foot and leg. If desired to alter the size of the footrest to accommodate diiferent sizes of boots, all that has to be done is to loosen the bolts e, when the toe-plate can be shifted to lengthen or shorten said foot-rest. A pair of these footc-ycles are required for each person-that is, one for each foot-which can readily be secured in place as above described.

By the employment of foot-cycles thus con structed a person can travel at almost any desired speed by imparting a forward motion to each foot alternately and throwing his body forward at the saine time, and when he desires to stop he can readily do so by drawing the foot bac-li and holding the body rigid. It will be seen that by this construction very large wheels can be employed while the foot is much below the center of the wheels and but a short distance from the ground.

That I cla-iin isl. In a foot-cycle, the combination, with a frame, provided with a wheel at cach end, of a stud on the intermediate portion of the frame, the upper end of which is provided with a heel-plate, and two downwardly-pro jecting longitudinally-slotted flanges, a bar above the frame, the rear end of which fits between the ianges, and is provided with a ICO heel-clamp, a bolt through the slots and the end of the bar, a @lamp adjustably secured to the front end of the bar, and engaging loosely with the frame, and provided With a toeclamp, and means for moving the bar, substantially as set forth.

2. In a foot-cycle, the Combination, with a frame, of a Wheel at each end, a stud upon the intermediate portion of the frame, the upper end of Which is provided With a heelplate, slotted flanges movably secured to the frame in front of the stud, a bar adjustably secured to said flanges at its front end, the rear end of the bar being provided With a heel-clamp and movably Connected With the heel-plate, and the under side of the central portion ofthe bar being provided With a rack, bearings upon the frame between the. stud and the flanges, a pinion journaled in the bearings and in engagement with the raok, and means for looking thel rear end of the bar to the heel-plate, substantially as set forth.

3. In a foot-cycle, the combination, With a frame, of a wheel at eaoh end, a stud upon the intermediate portion of the frame, the upper end of Which is provided With a heelplate, a toe-olamp provided With slotted iianges, two bolts through the flanges, one above and one beloW the frame, a bar secured to said flanges and Connected With the heelplate, the rear end of which is provided with a heel-clamp, and a bolt through the slots of' the iianges and the bar, and means for movin g the bar longitudinally, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tivo subscribing Witnesses, on this 28th day of March, A. D. 1895.

I-IOSEA NV. LIAB'BEY.

Vitnesses:

, CHASf STEERE EDWIN PLANTA- 

